title: Self-esteem and autonomic physiology: parallels between self-esteem and cardiac vagal tone as buffers of threat.
abstract: In this article a potential physiological connection to self-esteem is suggested: cardiac vagal tone, the degree of influence on the heart by the vagus, a primary nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system. This hypothesis emerges from parallels between the two literatures that suggest both self-esteem and cardiac vagal tone function to provide protection from threat responding. This article reviews these literatures and evidence and preliminary findings that suggest in some contexts self-esteem and cardiac vagal tone may exert an influence on each other. Last, the article discusses theoretical and applied health implications of this potential physiological connection to self-esteem.
authors.affiliation: University of Canterbury, Psychology Department, Christchurch, New Zealand. andy.martens@canterbury.ac.nz
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: John J B
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D012649:Self Concept; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*